Bishop Establishes New Peace and Justice Commission

By Ann Augherton
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/9/02)

"Making the transition from creed to deed" is what Father Gerard Creedon hopes to do in his new role as chairman of the newly formed Diocesan Peace and Justice Commission.

What began two years ago as an ad hoc committee to the diocesan priests council, is now a 13-member commission that will, according to Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, serve as a "consultative body to me on contemporary peace and social issues relative to our diocese, state and country."

"We don’t want to reinvent the wheel," said Father Creedon, referring to the diocesan and parish entities that are in the business of peace and justice, "but rather build on the work already in place."

Father Creedon believes that the commission will help the diocese rediscover "our rich tradition of social teaching.

"We will build on the existing groundwork, and utilize the resources of all the other offices of the diocese," he said, adding that the group will also take advantage of the work already being done in Washington and Richmond from groups that have been in place for some time.

Father Creedon pointed out that with the proximity of the diocese to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities USA, they would be "a major resource that will be of assistance to us."

"We will take our lead from the bishop, who has taken the initiative to start this with the unique needs of the diocese in mind," he said.

The commission held their first meeting recently to develop a plan of education and advocacy for the coming year, with the hope of encouraging parish participation. Developing a purpose statement will be a top priority. The statement draft details that the commission will offer the bishop "recommendations for the promotion of justice and peace … in light of the needs and the social teachings of the Church, especially in regard to the sacredness of human life, the dignity of the human person and the key themes identified by the U.S. Catholic bishops."

The members of the commission, selected by the bishop, represent various ethnic, geographic and special interest backgrounds. Father Mark S. Mealey, diocesan vicar for pastoral services, will serve as moderator. Two consulters to the commission include Bob Laird, director of the diocesan Family Life Office, and Anne Murphy, Catholic Charities program director for parish social ministry.

The other members include Letitia Gonzales, representing the Hispanic community; Marsha Williams, representing the African-American community; Ruth Kulick, representing the rural issues of Madison County, Va.; Sister Karl Ann Homberg, diocesan assistant superintendent for elementary education; Mason Nottingham from the diocesan prison ministry; Deacon Ted Ostrom, a permanent deacon; Mila Ruiz Tecala, a Filipino grief counselor; Andrea King, assistant director of the Family Life Office; and Father Jim Hudgins, parochial vicar of Queen of Apostles Parish in Alexandria.

The commission will focus on some of the following areas of concern, including justice issues such as homelessness and affordable housing, poverty, immigration, physical and mental health, discrimination, violence, which includes abortion, capital punishment, firearms, and domestic violence; and peace issues, such as global solidarity, war and peace, the military budget, human rights, and conflict resolution.

Father Creedon said, given the multi-ethnic nature of the diocese, immigration issues would need to be a strong concern.

The bishop pointed out to the commission that there are many issues that need attention. "Prioritize what issues to do first," he said. "There will be times when we as Catholics will look at these issues from a different place."

He told the members that they bring expertise and gifts that "all blended together will bring rich insight to the work of social justice."

The bishop said he wants an integrated approach, "We do not need division in the Church," adding that he hopes for unity, but not a uniformity.

Father Creedon said he hopes to work with the parishes and focus less on services, and more on the underlying social problems. "Services are symptoms of deeper structural problems of justice and poverty," he said, adding that the goal is to move from charity to justice.

Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald.  All rights reserved.